Lahore High Court addresses case backlogs in Punjab

The Lahore High Court (LHC) is addressing significant judicial backlogs in Punjab, focusing on both missing persons and serious criminal references. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum has questioned the Punjab Police regarding over 500 pending cases involving the alleged abduction of girls. This inquiry follows the recovery of a 16-year-old girl who had been missing for two years.

Chief Justice Neelum expressed concern over the effectiveness of existing committees established to handle cases involving women and children, noting that a departmental mindset shift is required to better handle such sensitive matters. Inspector General of Police Rao Abdul Kareem stated that the police will reassess investigations into cases involving women and children to ensure proper follow-up.

In a separate effort to expedite justice, the LHC reported deciding 945 murder and capital sentence references over a 15-month period. These cases, which include death sentences and life imprisonment under laws such as the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Anti-Rape Act, were processed as part of broader judicial reforms aimed at modernizing case management and reducing the backlog across the province.